Heat Siphon holds off Derry Ukes to win second straight Teener League title

>> In the decisive third game in the best-of-three championship series, top-seeded Heat Siphon edged the Derry Ukes 5-3 to capture the Latrobe-Derry Area Teener League title on Friday. Mason Seftas, noted for his powerful bat, turned in a strong performance in the hill to earn the victory for the Pumpers, while reliever Clay Petrosky worked out of trouble in the seventh inning to close out the contest. Playing as the road squad, the No. 3 seed Derry Ukes struck first, as they scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Matt McDowell opened the game with a walk, stole second, and then scored on a single by Landon Carns. Carns also scored later in the frame, as Quinn Hill delivered an RBI single to right field. In the bottom of that stanza, though, the Pumpers scored two runs of their own, despite just one hit. Josh Ulery was hit by a pitch to start, and Seftas drew a one-out walk. Following a wild pitch, both players scored on a ball off the bat of Ryan Hood that was mishandled by Derry Ukes shortstop Brayden Merichko. The Pumpers took the lead in the second with a pair of runs. After Ulery walked, he scored on an RBI triple by Petrosky, who then scored when Seftas reached on an error. The Ukes trimmed their deficit to 4-3 in the top of the third, when Merichko singled home Carns, but the Pumpers responded by scoring in the bottom of the frame, as Matt Dysert lead off with a home run over the left field fence. Unlike the prior games of the series, the bullpens for both squads were effective, as Zack David was sharp in relief of Carns over the final two innings. Meanwhile, Petrosky replaced Seftas to begin the seventh, but walked McDowell and allowed a single to Carns with one out. Jack Pletcher advanced both runners on a groundout, putting the tying run in scoring position. After intentionally walked Merichko, Petrosky retired Hill on a flyout to Ulery on shallow left to seal the championship. After high-scoring affairs in the first two games of the series, the teams combined for just 10 hits in the finale. Ulery, who reached base all four times, led the attack for Heat Siphon. Meanwhile, Carns had three singles for the Derry Ukes, while McDowell drew three walks.

>> Following a heartbreaking defeat the previous night, the Derry Ukes rebounded, holding off another late rally to defeat the Heat Siphon Pumpers 9-6 in Game Two of the Latrobe-Derry Area Teener League championship series. As a result, the best-of-three set will be determined by a decisive Game Three on Friday. The third-seeded Derry Ukes exploded for eight combined runs between the third and fourth innings, and were also boosted by a strong performance by starting pitcher Matt McDowell. After squandering a lead in the bottom of the seventh inning in Game One, the Ukes sputtered to close the game out on Thursday, but reliever Zack David settled in after allowing two runs, and retired the final three batters to seal the victory. Heat Siphon gained an early edge, as the No. 1 seed Pumpers scored in the top of the first, as Josh Ulery drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a groundout. The Pumpers added two more runs in the third, keyed by the two-run singled by Mason Seftas, to grab a 3-0 edge, but the Ukes immediately responded. With the No. 7-10 hitters in the order providing the spark, the Ukes scored three times in the bottom of the third to pull even, and then took command with five runs in the fourth. During that five-run outburst, Cole Zezzo drove in a pair of teammates with a single to center, and Tristan Seger, Matt McDowell, and Landon Carns also collected RBIs. The Derry Ukes extended their edge to 9-3, but Heat Siphon scored in the top of the sixth, and threatened to do much more damage. McDowell, however, was able to wiggle out of jeopardy, as he retired his final batter after eclipsing the 100-pitch mark to strand the bases loaded. The first four batters for Heat Siphon reached in the seventh, which brought the tying run to the plate, but David then induced three consecutive flyouts to even the series. In the win, Zezzo, Brayden Merichko and Ryan Harbert each collected two hits. Meanwhile, Ulery paced the Pumpers with a three-hit performance.

>> After squandering their lead in the top of the seventh inning, the Pumpers scored three times in the bottom of the frame, capped by a Josh Ulery single, to notch a 9-8 walkoff victory in Game One of the Latrobe Derry Area Teener Legion championship series. Ulery’s heroics came after the No. 3 seed Derry Ukes scored five times in the top of the seventh, despite collecting just one hit. Heat Siphon starter pitcher Grant Dowden worked into the final inning, but was pulled after he allowed a double and issued a walk to begin the stanza. From there, a pair of Pumpers’ relivers combined to walk three hitters, and hit two other batters. The Ukes could not make their 8-6 lead stand up, however, as top-seeded Heat Siphon rallied. Dowden opened the frame by drawing a walk, and Drake Clayton followed with a single to left field. After a strikeout, Derek Mullen, Jacob Bleehash and Blake Cecchini all walked, tying the contest at 8-8 and setting the stage for Ulery to deliver the game-ending single. In the victory, Ulery finished with four hits and three runs scored, Ryan Hood contributed three singles, and Mason Seftas produced four RBIs, including a three-run homer. Meanwhile, Matt McDowell paced the way for the Derry Ukes in the setback, as he tripled, walked twice and scored three runs. Game Two of the best-of-three series will be contested on Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

>> Ryan Hood tossed a complete game five-hit shutout leading top-seeded Heat Siphon to a 5-0 series clinching victory over FO.E. in game three of the best-of-3 semifinal Monday. The Pumpers advance to the Teener League championship series against Derry Ukes beginning Wednesday. The Pumpers took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an error and it stayed that way until they put up four runs in the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, Grant Dowden cracked a two-run single to right-center field and Drake Clayton followed with a two-run double to swell the lead to 5-0. The Eagles loaded the bases in the fifth inning but Austin Siko hit into a fielders choice to end what would be their best threat of the contest. Hood allowed five hits while striking out seven batters, walking one and hitting two batters. F.O.E. starter Jake Bradish was nearly as sharp allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits in six innings. Bradish struck out nine and walked three. Mason Seftas topped Heat Siphone's offense with two hits, a walk and two runs scored. Tyler Lynch got on base twice for the Eagles. First pitch for game one of the championship series is at 6:30 p.m. Tune in at 6 p.m. on Westmoreland Sports Network for a special pregame show featuring pregame festivities.

>> With its backs against the wall on Sunday, No. 1 seed Heat Siphon came out swinging scoring five runs in the second inning and beat No. 4 F.O.E. 10-4 in game two of the best-of-3 semifinal. The series is now tied at 1-1. The first six batters of the second inning reached base for the Pumpers with Matt Dysert and Derek Mullen driving in runs with singles. Josh Fazakas drew a walk to force in a run as well in the frame. Heat Siphon extended the lead to 7-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth. The Eagles clawed their way back into the game with back-to-back two-run singles from Rayce King and Aaron Roble to cut the lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning. But the Pumpers threw the knockout punch in the seventh plating three runs, two on run-scoring singles by Clay Petrosky and Ryan Hood, and held on for the victory. Fazakas and Drake Clayton each finished with two hits for Heat Siphon. Fazaks scored twice and drove in a run. Josh Ulery reached base three times and scored twice. Aaron Roble paced F.O.E. with two hits and two RBIs while teammate Tyler Ryan reached base three times and scored once. Game three of the series will be played on Monday at 6:30 p.m.

>> The Ukes bats came to life late in the contest, as they scored eight runs in their final two at bats to defeat the Saints, 11-7 on Saturday. As a result, No. 3 seeded Derry Ukes swept the series, defeating the second-seeded St. Anthony’s Saints, 2-0. Offense was at a premium for the majority of the contest, but the Ukes struck first in the bottom of the second, when Alek Gmeur walked and later scored on an error, one of six miscues by the Saints’ defense. St. Anthony’s drew even in the top of the third, but the Ukes regained the lead in the bottom of the stanza, and added to the lead by scoring another run in the fourth. In the fifth, St. Anthony’s pulled within a run and threatened to do more damage, but ultimately left the bases loaded, as Ukes’ pitcher Matt McDowell recorded a strikeout and induced a fielders’ choice to end the inning. In the bottom of the stanza, Derry Ukes erupted for four runs, keyed by a two-run single off the bat of Quinn Hill. Although the Saints scored a run in the top of the sixth, the Ukes again produced four runs in the bottom of the inning, all coming after a two-out error extended the frame. Landan Carns and Hill again provided the offense, as each notched a two-run single. The Ukes appeared to have the game in hand in the top of the seventh, with a 11-3 lead. St. Anthony’s rallied, however, scoring four runs on five hits, and bringing the tying run to the plate. However, Carns, who replaced McDowell earlier in the inning, induced a game-ending groundout with the bases loaded to seal the W. The Ukes compiled 11 hits, while the Saints ripped 13 hits. With the triumph, the Derry Ukes advance to the championship game, and will await the winner of F.O Eagles and Heat Siphon Pumpers.

>> The No. 4 seed Eagles surged to an 8-0 lead in the second inning, and fended off a late rally to defeat the top-seeded Pumpers 10-8 in Game One of the Latrobe Derry Area Teener League semifinals on Saturday. The F.O Eagles, who defeated Nakles in the wild card game earlier this week to advance to the semis, seemingly carried the momentum from that victory into the first two frames against Heat Siphon. After a pair of hits to open the contest, the Eagles scored three times without putting a ball in play, as four straight batters either walked or were hit by pitch. Although the Pumpers replaced starter pitcher Ryan Hood with Josh Ulery in the second, F.O. continued to find success, scoring five more times. Vinny Amatucci delivered the biggest blow, a two-run double that plated both Austin Siko and Jacob Bradish. Although Heat Siphon slowly chipped away at its deficit with a run in each the second, third and fifth frames, the Eagles scored in the top of the fourth and sixth to extend the lead to 10-3. The normally potent Pumpers bats came to life in the bottom of the sixth, however, as the team plated five runs. After three consecutive hits by Heat Siphon, the Pumpers drew three straight walks. Hood and Matt Dysert also drove in runs, and the Pumpers had the tying run in scoring position. F.O. called upon Amatucci to shut the door, however, and the reliever recorded the final out in the sixth, and then held the Pumpers scoreless in the seventh to seal the upset. The top five hitters in the Eagles lineup accounted for all 10 runs scored, with Bradish leading the way with three hits. In the setback, the Pumpers were led by Ulery, who had a double and three walks, as well as Mason Seftas, who blasted a solo homer and drew two free passes. The Eagles aim to sweep the series on Sunday at 1 p.m., while the Pumpers will try to extend the series to a decisive third game on Monday.

>> The third-seeded Derry Ukes pounded out 14 hits and scored 15 runs in a 15-7 victory over No. 2 St. Anthony's in game one of the best-of-3 semifinal on Friday evening. The game was tied at 2-2 after one inning but the Ukes erupted for six runs on seven hits in the second inning to leap in front 8-2. St. Anthony's fought back to trim the lead to 8-6 after three innings and the score was 10-7 after five complete. But the Ukes used another huge inning, this time scoring five runs in the top of the sixth, to put the game away. Jack Pletcher collected two hits, three RBIs and scored twice for the Ukes. Tristan Seger went 3-for-3, Quinn Hill drove in two runs and scored twice on two hits and Landan Carns reached base four times and scored four runs for DU. Ryan Bushey went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored for St. Anthony's. Logan Zitterbart added two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Zach David was the winning pitcher. The two teams will meet for game two starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Rosa-Oglietti Park.

>> F.O.E. scored twice in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie then added some big insurance runs in the sixth on its way to an 8-2 win over Nakles in the Wild Card game of the Latrobe-Derry Area Teener League playoffs Thursday. Singles by Aaron Robl and Tucker Knupp knocked in the first two runs of the game as the Eagles took a 2-0 lead after three innings. The Sharks tied the game in the top of the fourth on a RBI double from Payton Henry and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Chooch Aiello. But in the fifth inning, F.O.E's Tyler Ryan and Austin Siko hit back-to-back doubles to retake the lead and Vinny Amatucci drove in Siko on a base hit to put the Eagles in front 4-2. They threw the knockout punch in the bottom of the sixth by scoring four runs after two outs highlighted by a two-run single by Amatucci to swell the lead to 8-2. Tucker Knupp was the winning pitcher in relief. Amatucci led the Eagles with two hits, three RBIs and a run scored. Jake Bradish had two hits while driving in a run and scoring once. Henry reached base twice for Nakles which was limited to three hits. F.O.E. advances to play top-seed Heat Siphon in the best-of-three semifinals on Saturday with game one starting at 1 p.m.

Heat Siphon holds off Derry Ukes to win second straight Teener League title - Photo Gallery